Worried villagers say '˜no' to 200-home plan near village

The plan, submitted by developers David Wilson Homes, is for an estate plus ‘community facility’ on land north of Fleckney Road, Kibworth Beauchamp.

But worried residents have flooded local planning authority Harborough District Council with letters of objection.

They say Kibworth already has dangerous roads, an overcrowded primary school and overstretched surgeries.

Typical was this written objection from a Kibworth resident: “I truly believe that Kibworth cannot cope with any more houses without the infrastructure being dramatically improved.”

Another wrote “Great harm is being done by allowing development at a pace that is far beyond any kind of organic or sustainable growth.”

A Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council meeting on Tuesday night also decided to recommend refusal of the scheme “because (1) no adequate traffic or road infrastructure exists or is proposed, (2) there is a lack of sustainable infrastructure for this location and (3) because there is a serious lack of educational provision in the area”.

Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council clerk Stephen Butt said: “We’ve had a very powerful public response to this latest proposal for Kibworth. And of all the letters to the district council, there’s not one in favour.”

There is some hope for the Kibworth objectors.

In December 2015, Harborough District Council planners turned down schemes for two big new housing developments in Kibworth Beauchamp.

Planners said a major reason was the lack of places at the village primary school.

Cllr Grahame Spendlove-Mason said: “I think it’s appalling to consider any development where young children are likely to have to be bussed to school. Children need to go to school near where they live.”